Culinary shop finds new home at Macy’s

The culinary arm of Laguna Culinary Arts is moving to the Macy’s Home Store in South Coast Plaza.

The relocation of the renamed La Cuisine Culinary Arts, led by executive chef Laurent Brazier, was announced Monday.

Brazier, who has owned and managed the cooking school since March, will still lead the six-month professional chef program, which trains students for careers in the food service industry, and oversee the home chef classes for which Laguna Culinary Arts is known, along with catering.

The new spot in Costa Mesa has the amenities to handle all the cooking Brazier and fellow chefs plan on doing.

“The store already has two great kitchens, and it’s in a great location with a lot of people walking by,” Brazier said.

The company will close its Laguna Canyon location Feb. 28. Founder Nancy Milby will be moving the wine business into the South Coast Collection (SoCo), also in Costa Mesa.

LCA Wine will include tastings and classes, in partnership with the Neptune School of Wine, and a retail store. Milby will continue sponsoring trips and corporate events.

Milby and Brazier anticipate opening March 1 and mid-March, respectively.

Milby founded Laguna Culinary Arts in 2001. The school originally occupied a location along Coast Highway but moved in 2003 to a 4,000-square-foot facility at 845 Laguna Canyon Road.

Lack of foot traffic at the canyon location was a key factor in the move, Milby has said.